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Join us at the People's Hearing in Tucson, Arizona

The Speak Easy, Speak Free People's Hearing is a two-day public expression of testimonies, solutions and cultural celebration. This event encourages communities to come forward to keep their aspirations alive, setting in motion what comes next even in the midst of the chaos, harm, and silence of the year 2025. Building on the success of the first People’s Hearing in Greensboro, NC, we are excited to be in community with you all in Tucson, AZ. 

 Our communities have fought for the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water and eat healthy food in the places we live, play, learn, work and pray together. In the past, we have found the heart to endure rough times because of the presence of each other in unison - knowing we are not alone. Yet, from the start of 2025, our right to come together collectively in public has been systematically attacked. We have been stripped of local and national platforms for expressing and investing in the challenges affecting our communities' well-being and the solutions for ending harm and promoting quality of life. 

The People's Hearing in Tucson, AZ will:

• Convene representatives of communities from the state and surrounding regions to testify to the threats to their health, land and work. 
• Create space for dialogue where community representatives and their partners will together lay the groundwork for policies and movements that will secure a cleaner, healthier, and economically and culturally vibrant future. 
• Those invited include the community change-makers of Arizona, the Southwest and borderlands whose stories and solutions are ripe; leaders from across the country to bear witness and lift up the stories and solutions: and, all who are called to center the plight and promise of our communities in their work. 

People’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (PEJAC)

President Biden established the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) at the start of his term. The WHEJAC marked the first time that a Presidential advisory body was tasked with providing recommendations on environmental justice. The Council released a 92-page report advancing Justice40 commitments, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and Executive Order 12898 through a robust set of recommendations. Through 2024, the Council provided important reports on key climate, energy, and environmental justice issues, such as carbon management and disaster relief, along with its sharing of critical input for federal agencies such as FEMA, DOE, DOT, USDA and others. Thousands of people from across the Nation and its Territories shared public comments with the WHEJAC to express their most pressing environmental problems and solutions, putting their experiences and knowledge on the public record. 

In 2025, the Trump Administration shut down the Council. But in June 2025, the inaugural People's Hearing was hosted in Greensboro North Carolina, creating a spark for a new public accounting of environmental justice that can inspire new coalitions, supercharge movements, and stoke policy change locally and nationally. At the hearing, a set of movement leaders who served on the WHEJAC acted as formal witnesses and vowed to write national recommendations in support of the testimonies they heard. Due to the former WHEJAC members' role in the hearing process, attendees and organizers alike dubbed the witnesses as the People’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, or PEJAC. Honoring the hard work of the organizers in North Carolina, the PEJAC has fully committed to working to continue to receive testimony from attendees during the nationwide People’s Hearings. In doing so, the PEJAC aims to keep the public record on what is happening to our communities and to elevate environmental justice solutions back onto the national stage.  

LOCATION

The People's Hearing will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, downtown Tucson, Arizona.
UBICACIÓN: La Audiencia Popular se llevará a cabo en el DoubleTree by Hilton, en el centro de Tucson, Arizona.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 19, 2025:    Deadline to register to attend and book your lodging.

September 4, 2025:      People's Hearing Day 1:   1PM Start

September 5, 2025:      People's Hearing Day 2:   8AM start with breakfast; 12noon lunch; 3PM conclusion

FECHAS IMPORTANTES

19 de agosto de 2025:  Fecha límite para registrarse y reservar su alojamiento. 

4 de septiembre de 2025: Audiencia Popular, Día 1: Inicio a la 1:00 p. m.

5 de septiembre de 2025: Audiencia Popular, Día 2: Inicio a las 8:00 a. m. 

con desayuno; almuerzo a las 12:00 p. m.; conclusión a las 3:00 p. m.

LODGING

A small number of lodging rooms have been blocked for this meeting at the Tucson DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Tucson at a rate of $129/night excluding taxes.  If you require lodging contact book at THIS LINK BEFORE August 19th. Be prepared with your arrival and departure dates. You will be asked for a credit card. If you are approved for financial assistance, your credit card will be used for incidental charges only. If you have any problems booking, contact [email protected].

Alojamiento: Se han reservado algunas habitaciones para esta reunión en el Tucson DoubleTree by Hilton del centro de Tucson a un precio de $129 por noche (sin impuestos). Si necesita alojamiento, contáctenos en ESTE ENLACE antes del 19 de agosto. Tenga preparadas sus fechas de llegada y salida. Se le solicitará una tarjeta de crédito. Si se le aprueba la asistencia financiera, su tarjeta de crédito se utilizará únicamente para cubrir gastos adicionales. Si tiene algún problema para reservar, comuníquese con [email protected].

Supporting the engagement of community-based organizations

We value and are committed to the engagement of community-based leaders and organizations, and have a limited pool of funds available to support accommodation and travel associated with this event. All requests for travel and/or lodging sponsorship must be submitted by August 18th, 2025 in the registration form below. We will follow up confirming receipt of requests and communicate if requests are approved on August 20th, 2025. 

Apoyo a la participación de las organizaciones comunitarias

Valoramos y estamos comprometidos con la participación de los líderes y organizaciones comunitarias, y contamos con un fondo limitado disponible para financiar el alojamiento y los viajes relacionados con este evento. Todas las solicitudes de patrocinio de viaje o alojamiento deben enviarse antes del 18 de agosto de 2025 mediante el formulario de registro a continuación. Nos pondremos en contacto con usted para confirmar la recepción de las solicitudes y, si se aprueban, le comunicaremos el 11 de agosto de 2025.